Public education is the backbone of our democracy, and as educators, our top priority is ensuring that every child—regardless of their zip code, background, or family income—receives a high-quality public education.
President Donald Trump’s expected executive order calling for the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education and the executive order expanding private school voucher schemes are direct attacks on our students, our public schools, and our communities across the country.
Eliminating the U.S. Department of Education would strip away critical federal funding and oversight that protect students’ rights, support special education services, and help our most vulnerable children succeed–all while further deepening education inequities. In Connecticut, this reckless move would have devastating consequences, especially for students in our poorest communities who rely on Title I funding, school meal programs, and essential resources to level the playing field.
Trump’s January 29 order to expand private school voucher schemes is a blatant attempt to divert taxpayer dollars away from public schools—which educate the vast majority of our students. These schemes siphon resources from already struggling public schools and funnel them into private schools that lack accountability, selectively admit students, and operate with little or no transparency. Stealing away taxpayer dollars for private schools weakens our public education system and leaves our most vulnerable children—those with disabilities, English learners, and students from low-income families—without the support and services they need.
Only Congress has the power to eliminate the Department of Education, and we call on our elected officials to reject any efforts that undermine public education. Our students deserve more opportunities, more resources, and stronger protections—not reckless policies that jeopardize their future. We urge Congress to continue the federal government’s commitment to ensuring equal educational opportunities for every child by investing in public education, supporting our teachers, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used to strengthen the public schools that serve all children.
Now is the time to stand up for our students, our public schools, and our future to prevent political agendas from dismantling the public education system that is the foundation of opportunity for millions of children across the country.